Description

In December 2009, EPA Region 1 moved into this renovated structure. Built
in 1933, the 23-story, approximately 700,000 square foot historic John W.
McCormack Post Office and Courthouse (POCH) in downtown Boston is a beautiful
example of Art Deco architecture. EPA Region 1 is the primary tenant
in the building, occupying approximately 329,000 rentable square feet of space.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and EPA worked together on
a major historic renovation that removed all mechanical and electrical components
of the original building but reused an impressive 99 percent of the original
structure.

The building achieved LEED®
for new construction version 2.2 Gold certification from the U.S.
Green Building Council (USGBC) in June 2010.

Awards

In September 2010, the renovation of the McCormack POCH won an Honorable
Mention in the Workplace Innovation category of GSA’s Real Property Awards.

The Region 1 Office Renovation Team won an FY
2009 Sustainable Partner of the Year Award for the green renovation
of the new Region 1 Office. The team was a significant asset in coordinating
with EPA Headquarters and GSA on the green roof, LEED certification, and
green power purchasing. The team was also helpful in leading building tours
and producing videos of the sustainable features for the region’s
staff and management.

Environmental Features

Green Roof

A view from the McCormack POCH's green roof.

An interior room in the McCormack POCH.

A green roof accessible from the
5th floor and covering the 4th and 5th floor roof insulates the McCormack
POCH, cutting down on energy use and costs.

Native and drought-resistant plants filter bacteria and other pollutants
from stormwater runoff and provide
a pleasant garden for the building occupants.

Energy Conservation

The building in which the Region 1 Office is located was awarded
the ENERGY STAR® in 2011 with a score of 75, and in 2012 with a score of 90.

The McCormack POCH is expected to perform at least 17 percent better in
terms of total energy cost compared with similar buildings that meet the
baseline performance rating per American Society of Heating, Refrigerating,
and Air-Conditioning Standard 90.1-2004.

Insulation behind the building skin and office occupancy sensors that
turn lights off when offices are unoccupied help the building conserve energy.

Daylight dimming in perimeter spaces and ceilings designed to allow deep
penetration of daylight reduce the need for energy to power lights.

Transportation

Two of the 32 parking spaces under the building are reserved for fuel-efficient
vehicles.

The building is located within two blocks of several station entrances
to Boston's subway system, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
(“T”).

Waste Reduction and Recycling - Construction

More than 75 percent of the construction and demolition waste from the
McCormack POCH’s historical renovation was diverted for recycling.

Other Features

A hallway with preserved historical features in the McCormack
POCH.

The project reused 99 percent of the historical structure. It also preserved
interior features such as historical paneling, walnut wainscoting, terrazzo
floors with marble inlay, and oak parquet floors.

The renovation modernized the plumbing and fixtures of the bathrooms throughout
except for floors 12 and 15, which retained the historic fixtures, including
marble partitions.

The project’s Indoor Air Quality Plan protected workers during construction
by mandating air filtering and the use of low or non-volatile
organic compound paint.